08 Sep Two Sisters Share How Tummy Tucks Helped Them Reclaim Life
There’s so much more to plastic surgery than meets the eye. At Dr. Shaun Parson Plastic Surgery & Skin Center, we are dedicated to helping our patients achieve not only their aesthetic goals, but live a life with more confidence and joy. A tummy tuck is one of the more invasive plastic surgeries, but it also offers some of the most dramatic and life-changing results. This is exemplified in a recent story shared on New Beauty where two sisters, Erica (52) and Joy (48) shared their tummy tuck stories—calling them life-changing. Like many women, pregnancy caused diastasis recti (the separation of the abdominal muscles). A tummy tuck inherently includes diastasis recti correction as it strengthens the abdominal muscles. In fact, this part of a tummy is identical to a medical diastasis recti surgery. Many women initially start searching for diastasis recti surgery only to discover that they can get excess skin trimmed away at the same time—thus, diastasis recti surgery becomes a (cosmetic) tummy tuck.
Diastasis recti is an issue that impacts the muscles of the abdominal walls. When the stomach is quickly stretched, usually during pregnancy, there is a separation or weakening of the muscles that can understandably cause discomfort. The ab region is made up of the top layer of skin, a layer of fat, and the muscles below. There are a lot of muscles here, but the biggest ones we dub the “abs,” and they come together in the middle of the abdomen to create a vertical line called the linea alba. You can see this line in slender, fit people. It is narrow and tight, but with rapid stomach growth the muscles stretch out and the line widens. This is when diastasis recti occurs. The separation is very visible for most people, even those who aren’t very slender, and the abdomen can protrude out. It somewhat resembles a hernia and, depending on the severity, can even be painful as well as uncomfortable (however, diastasis recti is very much distinct from an actual hernia).
Living with Diastasis Recti
Diastasis recti is very common, which is reflected in the number of tummy tucks performed every year. It is, of course, possible to get a medical diastasis recti surgery which does not address skin laxity and is not a tummy tuck (however, it is also very rarely covered by insurance). However, most people who realize a tummy tuck will also fix diastasis recti opt for the surgery with much better aesthetic outcomes. Annually, there are over 207,000 tummy tucks performed. Of these surgeries, there are nearly 5,000 instances of reported diastasis recti, though it is suspected that this number is under-reported since it is not required to make note of concurrent conditions.
Pregnancy is the most common cause of diastasis recti, but it can also occur with rapid weight shifts—especially weight loss. This might be due to an illness, crash diet, or weight loss surgery. Regardless, a key element of any tummy tuck is the tightening of the abdominal muscles, whether diastasis recti is present or not. This is why the stomach can feel “tight” after a tummy tuck, but will quickly become the comfortable norm.
The Basics of a Tummy Tuck
A tummy tuck is known as abdominoplasty and is almost always paired with liposuction. This is because the stomach is very good at storing fat, and yet you need a thin layer of fat here in order to achieve a flat, taut stomach. Plus, liposuction rarely requires additional incisions when coupled with a tummy tuck, so it just makes sense to combine them (and the recovery period). Full tummy tucks require a long, thin incision along the lower belly that will be hidden under clothes, underwear, and swimsuits. Excess skin is removed, then the remaining skin is elevated to preserve blood supply. Muscle tightening—the diastasis recti surgery—is critical in order to restore the anatomy of the abdomen. Bellybuttons are either repositioned or re-created during a tummy tuck.
Clearly, a tummy tuck is a very invasive surgery, and the downtime reflects that. It repairs muscles and removes skin via a long incision. Patients should not exert these muscles for 4 – 6 weeks after their surgery, and every recovery plan is tailor-made for the patient. Your specific guidelines on returning to certain activities will be detailed during your pre-op appointments. Remember that the success of your surgery is dependent on the skill of your surgeon. This is a transformative procedure, and you deserve a doctor who is board-certified. They need to have a full understanding of the abdominal anatomy and many years of experience performing a tummy tuck—otherwise, serious complications and a poor outcome can occur. To schedule a consult with one of the area’s leading board-certified plastic surgeons, contact Dr. Shaun Parson Plastic Surgery & Skin Center today by calling the office or filling out the online contact form.